POLS 155 Lecture 6: Impeachment
Document Summary
Impeachment in the united states is an enumerated power of the legislature that allows formal charges to be brought against a civil officer of government for crimes alleged to have been committed. Impeachment proceedings have been initiated against several presidents of the. Andrew johnson and bill clinton are the only two presidents to have been successfully impeached by the house of representatives, and both were later acquitted by the senate. The impeachment process against richard nixon was technically unsuccessful, as nixon resigned his office before the vote of the full house for impeachment, but successful in the broader sense of leading to nixon"s departure. To date, no u. s. president has been removed from office by impeachment and conviction. Impeachment is analogous to indictment in regular court proceedings; trial by the other house is analogous to the trial before judge and jury in regular courts.
